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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






2. Passage for the entire ensemble or orchestra without a soloist.






3. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






4. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






5. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






6. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






7. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






8. The playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range. Also the highest voice in choral singing.






9. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






10. A repeated phrase.






11. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






12. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






13. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






14. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






15. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






16. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






17. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






18. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






19. The highest female voice.






20. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






21. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






22. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






23. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






24. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






25. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






26. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






27. Lowest female singing voice.






28. A line in a contrapuntal work performed by an individual voice or instrument.






29. To shift to another key.






30. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






31. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






32. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






33. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






34. Suite of Baroque dances.






35. Pertaining to the sonata form - a fast movement in triple time.






36. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






37. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






38. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






39. A composition written for eight instruments.






40. The major and minor keys that share the same notes in that key.For example: A minor shares the same note as C major.






41. A piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists.






42. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






43. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






44. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.






45. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






46. A separate section of a larger composition.






47. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






48. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






49. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






50. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.